Golf-practicing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A golf-practicing apparatus having a panel of fabric material disposed in upright position, the panel being provided with the outline of a fairway and a green removably secured to the fabric of the panel and disposed on the fairway. A self-adhering golf ball may be propelled from a tee on a mat arranged in front of the panel and driven against the panel so as to cling to the latter. An elevation distance scale is provided on the panel and graduated in feet. Moreover, a driving distance-indicating scale is provided on the mat in front of the tee. The green is subdivided into subareas, each being designated by a number for indicating a subsequent putt, using a conventional golf ball, and the mat has a putting distance-designating scale disposed in back of the tee.

United @tates Pateni 3,032,345 5/1962 Leme1son...

Aldo J. Giusti 764 Johnson St, Half Moon Bay, Calif. 94019 18,965

7 Mar. 12, 1970 Aug. 24, 1911 Inventor Appl. No. Filed PatentedGOLF-PRACT ICING APPARATUS 3,411,788 11/1968 Blanding I PrimaryExaminer-George J. Marlo 10/1968 Pearce 273/199 X Attorney-Joseph F ColeABSTRACT: A golf-practicing apparatus having a panel of fabric materialdisposed in upright position, the panel being provided with the outlineof a fairway and a green removably secured to the fabric of the paneland disposed on the fairway. A self-adhering golf ball may be propelledfrom a tee on a mat arranged in front of the panel and driven againstthe panel so as to cling to the latter. An elevation distance scale isprovided on the panel and graduated in feet. Moreover, a drivingdistance-indicating scale is provided on the mat in front of the tee.The green is subdivided into subareas, each being designated by a numberfor indicating a subsequent putt, using a conventional golf ball, andthe mat has a putting distancedesignating scale disposed in back of thetee.

PATENFEB M1824 mm 3,601. 406

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ALDO J-GIUSTI 40 ATTORNEY see 1 GOLF-PRACTICING APP I An object of thisinvention is to provide an apparatus that will simulate conditions on areal golf course and afford a golfer an opportunity to increase theskill in playing golf, while providing enjoyment in playing with theapparatus.

Moreover, it is proposed in this invention to provide a fabric panelthat is suspended in substantially upright position the panel having afair way outlined thereon, and a fabric green is removably secured tothe fairway. A self-adhering golf ball is provided that may be driven bya golfer from a position on a driving range on a mat arranged in frontof the panel, and this golf ball will cling to the panel in the positionwhere it strikes the latter. Initially, the self-adhering ball is drivenfrom a tee on the mat and against the panel, and an elevationdistancedesignating scale is provided for subsequent distance to be usedby the golfer until this golf ball lands on the green.

Furthennore, the green is subdivided into subareas, each subarea beingidentified by a putting distance-designating number for indicating adistance on the mat to be used in putting a conventional golf ball alongthe mat and toward a member on the mat that forms a hole for receivingthe latter ball.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds,and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing in detail, a panel A of fabricmaterial is suspended from its top 20 in substantially upright positionby any suitable means, and it may be placed inside a home, against abuilding or located in any selected location. For this purpose, a hem 21has been shown in FIGS. l and 2 for receiving a polelike rod 22, andeyelets 23 have been secured to this rod. Moreover, hooks 24 may besecured to a wall 25 and these hooks engaged with the eyelets. Ofcourse, any suitable frame may be used to constitute a support for thepanel.

Moreover, a lower hem 26 is provided at the bottom 27 of the panel A andit has a rod 28 confined in this hem, thus holding the panel taut.However, the panel is free to flex when a golf ball is driventhereagainst, and for this reason the panel is spaced forwardly of thewall 25.

It will be note from FIG. 1 that elevation distance-indicia B isdisplayed on the front face of the panel A and indicating verticaldistances along the height of the panel from the bottom 27 to the top 20thereof. The indicia B is defined by a scale having the number 0 to 8,inclusive, representing feet, the numbers on the scale progressivelyincreasing from the bottom toward the top of the panel.

As shown in FIGS. l and 3, a piece of fabric material represents a greenC and is arranged on a fairway D outlined whereby the green may bespotted on a desired place on the panel.

Also, a permanent green E is provided on the fairway D in an upperportion of the latter, and sandtraps 31 may be associated with thisgreen.

As a part of the golf-practicing apparatus, a self-adhering golf ball Fis provided, and it has hooks 32 on its surface that will interengagewith and cling to the fabric of the panel A or green C when this ball ispropelled thereagainst by a golfer from a position on a driving rangelocated in front of the panel, with the hooks holding the golf ball F atthe location where it strikes the panel.

The patches 30 on the green C and strips 33 on the ball F may be madefrom Velcro," a commercial item of synthetic materials which adhere whenpressed together. Actually, loops are provided on the material that arecut to present J- shaped hooks, such as 29 and 32.

The driving range previously mentioned is provided by a mat G laid upona floor or the ground 34 in front of the panel A, the mat being providedwith a tee 35 for supporting the selfadhering ball F, the tee beingdisposed at a predetermined distance in front of the panel.

Driving distance-designating indicia H is displayed on the upper surfaceof the mat G and indicating distances along the mat, starting with thetee 35 and progressing toward the bottom of the panel A. This indicia isdefined by a scale graduated in numbers 0 to 8, inclusive, representingfeet, these numbers progressively increasing from the tee toward thepanel.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a reference line 36 extending transverselyacross the upper surface of the mat G, the indicia H being confinedbetween the tee 35 and the reference line. The latter is spaced apredetermined distance in front of the panel A, for example 4 feet, thusproviding a free swinging area 37 for a club being swung by the golferso that the club will not strike the panel. Moreover, the area 37 allowsthe golfer to take position further in front of the panel A, and theball F will take a smaller trajectory angle during a drive, simulatingconditions on a regular golf course.

It will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 3 that the green C is subdividedinto a plurality of endless subareas disposed one within the other.These subareas are identified by the numbers 8, 10 and 12 for indicatinga subsequent putt.

A member 38 is disposed on the mat G at a preselected position in frontof the panel A for instance at the reference line 36, this memberproviding a hole 39 into which a conventional golf ball J may be drivenover the mat from a distance from this member as indicated for a putt,when the self-adhering golf ball F lands on the green C.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a putting distance-designating scale K arrangedon the mat G between the tee 35 and the rear edge 40 of the mat, thisscale being graduated in feet and having numbers 8, 10 and 12corresponding with the numbers on the green C.

The structural features of the golf-practicing apparatus having beendescribed, the rules and procedures for the game will now be set forthbriefly so that the reasons for the structure will be apparent.

Before starting the game, the movable green C is placed over thepermanent green E, as shown by dot-dash lines in on the panel A, andthis green may be removably secured to I,

the fairway by a plurality of hooks 29 provided on the underneath faceof this material. These hooks are disposed on patches 30 that willinterengage with the fabric material of the panel, when the green C ispressed against the panel A,

FIG. 1. Then the golfer stands near the tee 35 and drives theself-adhering golf ball F against the panel A so that it sticks on thelatter, for example, at F, the line of flight of this ball beingindicated at 41. Assuming that the ball at F position is 4 feet abovethe bottom of the panel A, as indicated by the scale B, the green C ismoved to the lower position as shown by full lines in FIG. 1, and thegolfer moves ball F to the 4" foot number on the scale H, that is, tothe F position on the mat G. Thereupon, the golfer drives the ball Ftoward the panel, attempting to land the ball on the green C at itslower position.

If the golfer misses the green C by 2 feet and the ball F lands at F onthe fairway D, the golfer then places the ball F two feet from thereference line 36, that is, at F on the mat G.

This same procedure is followed until the ball F lands on the green C.If the ball F should land at the center of the green C, as indicated bythe dot 42 on this green, that is, the ball is now at the F position,the golfer has completed the game without going into the putting phase.

Assuming that the ball F lands on the area of the green C, that is, atthe F position, the hole-defining member 38 is placed on the referenceline 36, and the golfer then uses the conventional golf ball J, placingthe ball at the 10" foot mark on the scale K, as shown in FIG. 1, andemploys a putter club. In the event that the ball J should not enter thehole 39 and stops elsewhere, for example, at position J, the golferputts again. This procedure is followed until the ball J does in factenter the hole 39.

In order to require further skill on the part of the golfer, removablesandtraps 43 have been provided on the fairway D near the green C.

The following special rules may be prescribed: If the golfer should missthe panel A entirely with the ball F, there would be a penalty of twostrokes. However, in the event that the ball F should miss the fairwaybut it still landed on the panel A, there would be a penalty of onestroke. If the ball F should land in a sandtrap, there would be apenalty ofone stroke.

The total number of strokes taken by a golfer from start to finishindicates the score for the first hole. This procedure may be extendedto several holes of practice golf, for instance, 9 or 18. The golferhaving the fewest number of strokes for the game would be declared to bethe winner. The particular type of golf club used for a particularsituation would be up to the judgment of the golfer, as in a regulargolf game, thus requiring skill on the part of the golfer for a givensituation.

lclaim:

I. In a golf-practicing apparatus:

a. a panel of fabric material suspended from its top in substantiallyupright position and having a front face provided with the outline of afairway thereon;

b. elevation distance-designating indicia displayed on the front face ofthe panel and indicating vertical distances along the height of thepanel from the bottom to the top thereof;

a piece of fabric material representing a green arranged on the fairway;

d. and a self-adhering golf ball provided with a plurality of hooks onits surface that will interengage with and cling to the fabrics of thepanel and green, when the ball is propelled thereagainst by a golferfrom a position on a driving range located in front of the panel, withthe hooks holding the golf ball at the location where it strikes thepanel or green.

. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim I;

and in which the elevation distance-designating indicia on the panel isdefined by a scale having numbers representing feet, the numbers on thescale progressively increasing from the bottom toward the top of thepanel.

3. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 1;

e. and in which the piece of material representing the green isremoyably secured to the fairway by a plurality of hooks provided on theunderneath face of this material that will interengage with the fabricmaterial of the panel, when the piece of material forming the green ispressed against the panel, whereby the green may be spotted on a desiredplace on the panel.

The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 1',

e. and in which the driving range is provided by a mat laid upon a flooror the ground in front of the panel, the mat being provided with a teefor supporting the self-adhering golf ball, the tee being disposed at apredetermined distance in front of the panel.

. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 4;

and in which driving distance-designating indicia is displayed on theupper surface of the mat and indicating distances along the mat,starting with the tee and progressing toward the bottom of the panel.

. The golf-gracticin apparatus, as set forth in claim 5;

and in w ich the rivmg distance-designating indicia on the mat isdefined by a scale graduated in numbers representing feet, these numbersprogressively increasing from the tee toward the panel.

7. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 5;

. and in which a reference line extends transversely across the uppersurface of the mat, and the driving distancedesignating indicia on themat is confined between the tee and the reference line, the latter beingspaced at a predetermined distance in front of the panel to provide afree swinging area for a club being swung by the golfer so that the clubwill not strike the panel.

. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 7;

. and in which the green is subdivided into a plurality of endlesssubareas disposed one within the other, and each subarea beingidentified by a putting distance-designating number;

. and a member disposed on the mat at a preselected position in front ofthe panel, the member providing a hole into which a conventional golfball may be driven over the mat from a distance from the member asindicated for a putt, when the self-adhering golf ball lands on thegreen.

. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 8;

j. and in which the member providing the hole is disposed at thereference line;

k. and a putting distance-designating scale arranged on the mat betweenthe tee and a rear edge of the mat, this scale being graduated in feetand having numbers corresponding with the numbers on the green.

1. In a golf-practicing apparatus: a. a panel of fabric materialsuspended from its top in substantially upright position and having afront face provided with the outline of a fairway thereon; b. elevationdistance-designating indicia displayed on the front face of the paneland indicating vertical dIstances along the height of the panel from thebottom to the top thereof; c. a piece of fabric material representing agreen arranged on the fairway; d. and a self-adhering golf ball providedwith a plurality of hooks on its surface that will interengage with andcling to the fabrics of the panel and green, when the ball is propelledthereagainst by a golfer from a position on a driving range located infront of the panel, with the hooks holding the golf ball at the locationwhere it strikes the panel or green.
 2. The golf-practicing apparatus,as set forth in claim 1; e. and in which the elevationdistance-designating indicia on the panel is defined by a scale havingnumbers representing feet, the numbers on the scale progressivelyincreasing from the bottom toward the top of the panel.
 3. Thegolf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 1; e. and in which thepiece of material representing the green is removably secured to thefairway by a plurality of hooks provided on the underneath face of thismaterial that will interengage with the fabric material of the panel,when the piece of material forming the green is pressed against thepanel, whereby the green may be spotted on a desired place on the panel.4. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 1; e. and inwhich the driving range is provided by a mat laid upon a floor or theground in front of the panel, the mat being provided with a tee forsupporting the self-adhering golf ball, the tee being disposed at apredetermined distance in front of the panel.
 5. The golf-practicingapparatus, as set forth in claim 4; f. and in which drivingdistance-designating indicia is displayed on the upper surface of themat and indicating distances along the mat, starting with the tee andprogressing toward the bottom of the panel.
 6. The golf-practicingapparatus, as set forth in claim 5; g. and in which the drivingdistance-designating indicia on the mat is defined by a scale graduatedin numbers representing feet, these numbers progressively increasingfrom the tee toward the panel.
 7. The golf-practicing apparatus, as setforth in claim 5; g. and in which a reference line extends transverselyacross the upper surface of the mat, and the drivingdistance-designating indicia on the mat is confined between the tee andthe reference line, the latter being spaced at a predetermined distancein front of the panel to provide a free swinging area for a club beingswung by the golfer so that the club will not strike the panel.
 8. Thegolf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 7; h. and in which thegreen is subdivided into a plurality of endless subareas disposed onewithin the other, and each subarea being identified by a puttingdistance-designating number; i. and a member disposed on the mat at apreselected position in front of the panel, the member providing a holeinto which a conventional golf ball may be driven over the mat from adistance from the member as indicated for a putt, when the self-adheringgolf ball lands on the green.
 9. The golf-practicing apparatus, as setforth in claim 8; j. and in which the member providing the hole isdisposed at the reference line; k. and a putting distance-designatingscale arranged on the mat between the tee and a rear edge of the mat,this scale being graduated in feet and having numbers corresponding withthe numbers on the green.